The State Security Service, Georgia’s intelligence agency, denied its involvement in Afgan Mukhtarli’s case in a brief statement on June 9.

“The Statement of Azerbaijani MP Elman Nasirov that the detention of journalist Afgan Mukhtarli was a joint effort of Georgian and Azerbaijani security agencies, is not true,” the State Security Service explained.

“The State Security Service discards the report and categorically denies its involvement in the case of Afgan Mukhtarli,” the agency also stated.

The State Security Service added that an investigation was launched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs under Article 143 of the Criminal Code on unlawful imprisonment.